Mo Li

Yelv Ye had made such a spectacle of himself before the dignitaries of various nations. As the white eagle, trapped in its cage and frantically thrashing about in an attempt to escape, was carried away, Yelv Ye stood there disheveled, his face dark with fury. The guests whispered among themselves at his sorry state. Out of courtesy as hosts, the people of Prince Ding's Estate restrained their reactions, but the envoys from other countries showed no such restraint. Some from Western Liang even doubled over with laughter, further souring Yelv Ye's mood.

Ye Li handed Mo Xiaobao to the wet nurse beside her and said with a gentle smile, "Just a minor mishap—please don’t take it to heart. Prince Yelv, perhaps you should go change your clothes?"

Yelv Hong nodded in agreement. "Wang Fei is right. My seventh brother’s momentary lapse disturbed Wang Ye and Wang Fei—please forgive him. Seventh Brother, go on ahead." Back in Northern Rong, Yelv Hong and Yelv Ye had been bitter rivals, to the point where they would have gladly killed each other. But now, in the land of Chu, they had no intention of airing their grievances. Yelv Hong merely offered a mild reminder. With a grim expression, Yelv Ye bowed stiffly to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao before turning to leave and change.

The brief incident did little to dampen the mood. Yelv Hong stood and said with a smile, "Since my seventh brother has already presented his gift, I, on behalf of Northern Rong and our father, have also prepared a gift for the Little Prince. I hope Prince Ding and Wang Fei will not find it lacking."

With a wave of his hand, two Northern Rong men stepped forward, carrying an ornate brocade box. When opened, a golden glow illuminated the banquet hall, dazzling all the guests. Inside the box was another eagle—but unlike the unruly white eagle from before, this one was a golden sculpture. Lifelike in its craftsmanship and nearly the same size as the white eagle, it was cast entirely of gold, with eyes inlaid with two gleaming emeralds. The sheer weight of it, requiring two men to carry, proved it was no mere gold-plated or gilded piece, but solid gold through and through. Though Northern Rong was rich in gold mines, this gift was undeniably extravagant.

Mo Xiuyao nodded appreciatively. "Many thanks to the Crown Prince of Northern Rong for such a generous gift." With a gesture, attendants stepped forward to receive the gift and carry it away. Yelv Hong merely smiled faintly and returned to his seat.Afterwards, envoys from various countries presented their gifts one after another, and the generals of Prince Ding's Estate also did not dare to lag behind, each offering presents for the Little Prince. There wasn’t much thought put into them, and even when Zhennan Wang presented four beauties from Western Liang, Mo Xiuyao accepted them all without batting an eye. The expressions of those present grew somewhat peculiar as they observed the reactions of Prince Ding and Princess Ding on the dais.

Ye Li took a sip from her wine cup and chuckled softly, "Your Highness is quite the fortunate man."

Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly and smiled, "Being able to marry A Li as my wife, I am indeed the most fortunate of men."

Ye Li raised a delicate brow. "And what does Your Highness plan to do with those ten Western Liang beauties?"

Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently, "After receiving so many gifts tonight, how can we not return the favor? That Yelv Ye, Yelv Hong, Mo Jingli, Anxi—well, Princess Anxi can be exempted. Just send a few to each of them—problem solved. Do you think they’d dare refuse a gift from this prince?" Even if they didn’t want them, they’d have to deal with it privately. No one would dare embarrass him in public.

Hearing this, Ye Li couldn’t help but twitch her lips. "Mingxi and Feng San were right—Your Highness is growing more and more stingy." Using the gambling winnings to fund their son’s full-month banquet was one thing, but now even the return gifts were being recycled from what others had given them.

Mo Xiuyao grinned. "A Li, you can’t blame me for being frugal. With so many mouths to feed in the Mo Family Army, we have to be careful. Hmm… By the way, I saw a set of jewelry from the Western Regions the other day—very exquisite, and perfect for you. Cost me a full sixty thousand taels."

"Oh? For me?" The mention of sixty thousand taels made Ye Li frown slightly—that was sixty thousand taels of silver, not some trivial sum. Still, hearing that Mo Xiuyao had bought it for her brought her a quiet joy. No woman disliked receiving gifts from her husband.

Mo Xiuyao nodded, grumbling, "These people really have no sense. What does a little brat like Mo Xiaobao understand? It was you who went through the hardship of childbirth—they should be giving gifts to you instead!"

The guests in the hall watched the clearly harmonious couple on the dais with strange expressions. Prince Ding had openly accepted ten Western Liang beauties in front of everyone, yet Princess Ding showed not the slightest displeasure—in fact, she seemed even happier than before. How could that be? It didn’t look like she was forcing a smile either.

Before anyone could dwell on it further, a sharp voice suddenly rang out from below the city tower: "Imperial Decree arrives!"

Everyone froze, most unable to comprehend what was happening. At this hour, where had this decree-bearer come from? The city gates should have been closed long ago. And the Emperor of Great Chu was truly peculiar—he hadn’t shown up earlier to celebrate the Heir Apparent Ding’s banquet, only to make an appearance halfway through the feast to startle everyone. Many turned their gazes toward Mo Jingli, only to find him equally bewildered, his brows deeply furrowed in confusion.

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, however, remained composed and unruffled. The smile on Mo Xiuyao’s lips deepened as his gaze drifted lazily toward Xu Hongyu and Xu Qingchen seated below. Xu Hongyu gave an almost imperceptible nod, while Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, exuding an air of serene elegance.Before long, the envoy delivering the imperial edict ascended the city tower. Leading the group was a man dressed in the official court robes of the second rank—none other than the current Minister of Rites. Behind him followed several other officials from the Ministry of Rites, accompanied by a few Imperial Bodyguards, all presenting a solemn and dignified appearance. The Minister of Rites raised the imperial edict with both hands, holding it high above his head as he announced loudly, "The imperial decree has arrived! Mo Xiuyao, receive the decree!" The crowd erupted in murmurs—this was clearly not a visit to celebrate the full moon of the Heir Apparent Ding, but rather an outright provocation.

Mo Jingli, along with Ye Li and others, rose and knelt to receive the decree. Though he had little regard for his elder brother the emperor, he was still the Prince Li of Great Chu and had to maintain appearances. Others, however, were far less courteous. The generals and officials of the Mo Family Army pretended not to hear, continuing to drink and chat as they pleased. In the northwest, so-called imperial decrees held less value than scrap paper. As for the envoys from Western Liang and Northern Rong, they watched the scene unfold with amusement. Seated in the place of honor, Mo Xiuyao showed no intention of rising to receive the decree, leaving Mo Jingli and his party as the only ones kneeling. Mo Jingli seethed inwardly, cursing his emperor brother for stirring unnecessary trouble.

Clearly, the Minister of Rites had not anticipated such a reception. Staring up at Mo Xiuyao, who lounged lazily in his chair on the elevated platform, looking down at him with indifference, the minister said sternly, "Mo Xiuyao, receive the decree!"

"Read it," Mo Xiuyao replied coolly. The Minister of Rites frowned, about to speak, when Mo Xiuyao suddenly sat up and fixed him with a piercing gaze. "Either read what's in your hands, or take it and get out of Ruyang City. I'm in a good mood tonight, so I won't take your worthless lives."

"How dare you!" The minister's face flushed with anger, his finger trembling as he pointed at Mo Xiuyao, momentarily speechless. Stripped of his noble title by imperial decree, Mo Xiuyao's audacity was a blatant disregard for the court and the emperor. "Prince Li Dianxia!" The minister was no fool—he knew he stood no chance against Mo Xiuyao and turned to Mo Jingli, who was still kneeling nearby. Mo Jingli's expression darkened, feeling his dignity trampled by his emperor brother's actions. Rising to his feet, he cast a cold glance at the minister and said, "Didn't you hear him? Read the decree, unless you actually want to be thrown out."

The minister's face twisted in suppressed rage, but he swallowed his pride. After all, the emperor had sent him to deliver this decree, and returning without even reading it would spell disaster for him back in the capital. Taking a deep breath, he unfurled the bright yellow silk scroll and read aloud, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The commoner Mo Xiuyao, in his audacity, has amassed military power without authorization, arrogated the title of prince, and committed treason. The Xu family of Yunzhou, colluding with rebels, conspired to destabilize the nation—their crimes warrant execution. Mo Xiuyao is stripped of his imperial surname and reduced to the status of a lowly commoner. The Xu family of Yunzhou shall be exterminated to the last. So it is decreed!"The entire city gate tower fell into silence, so quiet that even the cries of street vendors and commoners from the nearby streets below could be heard clearly. Everyone couldn't help but look at the Minister of Rites holding the imperial edict as if he were a madman—what use was that thing? Did they think Mo Xiuyao could be demoted at their whim? Even if Mo Jingqi wrote a thousand edicts to trample Mo Xiuyao into the dust, he would still remain lofty and proud in the northwest, looking down on kings and nobles. And as for the Xu Family—did they really think they could execute them all just by saying so? Why didn't they try executing even one member of the Xu Family first? Just by looking at the row of Xu Family members seated at the front, it was clear how utterly unreliable this edict from the Emperor of Chu was.

Of course, Mo Jingqi knew the edict was useless. That wasn’t why he had sent someone here today—not to actually execute the Xu Family, nor to truly do anything to Mo Xiuyao. He simply wanted to humiliate Mo Xiuyao in front of the world’s heroes and nobility.

"Hahaha…" Suddenly, a clear, bright laugh rang out from the main seat. Mo Xiuyao leaned back in his chair as if he had heard something incredibly amusing, laughing so hard he nearly collapsed into it. Once he finally calmed down, he propped himself up against Ye Li’s shoulder and looked down at the Minister of Rites, who was struggling to maintain his composure. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "Strip me of the imperial surname? Has that fool Mo Jingqi forgotten that my surname wasn’t bestowed by him? It’s merely an unfortunate coincidence that we share the same ancestor."

"How dare you be so insolent to His Majesty!" the Minister of Rites roared, though his face also bore a trace of embarrassment. The founding of Chu had prioritized filial piety, and ancestral surnames—aside from those granted as rewards for extraordinary merit—could not be altered by anyone, not even the emperor. Even in cases of crimes punishable by the extermination of one’s entire clan, the criminal’s surname could not be arbitrarily changed. Moreover, Mo Xiuyao had always been surnamed Mo—it wasn’t a name granted by the emperor. Additionally, though the two families shared the same origin, they had established separate ancestral temples after the founding emperor’s reign, meaning Mo Xiuyao and Mo Jingqi, while sharing the same surname, were no longer part of the same lineage. Mo Jingqi had the authority to expel the various princes and nobles of the capital from the imperial clan, but he had no jurisdiction over Mo Xiuyao. Still, no matter how awkward the situation, the Minister of Rites couldn’t allow Mo Xiuyao to openly call the emperor a fool.

Mo Xiuyao arched a brow indifferently, completely unfazed by the Minister of Rites’ fury. Whoever Mo Jingqi had sent to the northwest to die was clearly no important figure—probably some newly appointed Minister of Rites.

Mo Xiuyao didn’t bother with him, but the generals of the Mo Family Army below couldn’t hold back. They erupted in furious curses. Men from the barracks naturally lacked the refined eloquence of court scholars—their insults were crude and unrestrained, likely surpassing every insult Mo Jingqi had ever received in his life in just this one night. Mo Xiuyao leisurely enjoyed the soldiers’ tirade, making no move to restrain them. After all, the formalities were over—Mo Xiaobao’s full-month banquet was complete. The rest was just entertainment.Below, Lei Tengfeng sat beside Zhennan Wang, frowning slightly as he asked in a low voice, "Father, what do you think Prince Ding intends by this?" If Mo Jingqi's antics were to spread, Mo Xiuyao's reputation would undoubtedly suffer. Had Mo Xiuyao wished to stop this, those officials delivering the imperial edict would never have made it inside. Yet now, not only did Mo Xiuyao show no intention of intervening, he even seemed to be subtly encouraging the situation, adding fuel to the fire. This left Lei Tengfeng utterly perplexed about Mo Xiuyao's true motives.

Zhennan Wang narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing at Mo Xiuyao seated at the head of the table—his smile intact, but a chilling glint visible in his gaze. Then he turned his attention to Ye Li, who sat quietly beside Mo Xiuyao, observing the farce before them with detached calm, as if entirely unperturbed. Zhennan Wang knew well that Ye Li was no meek woman. In truth, she seldom lost her temper, but when she truly did, few men—let alone women—could withstand her wrath. Even the Xu Family members below appeared remarkably composed. The usually hot-tempered Third and Fifth Young Masters of the Xu Family sat drinking quietly, as though this matter had nothing to do with them.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhennan Wang's heart sank as he muttered gravely, "It seems... Mo Xiuyao is preparing to sever ties with Great Chu for good." This was not welcome news for Western Liang. While Western Liang, along with Northern Rong and Nanzhao, had spared no effort in driving a wedge between the Great Chu imperial family and Prince Ding's Estate, none of them truly wished to see an outright rupture between the two. If Prince Ding's Estate and the Mo Family Army were a razor-sharp sword, then Great Chu was its somewhat rusted scabbard—one that could still restrain the Mo Family Army when necessary, giving those cornered by its blade a chance to catch their breath and retaliate. Just as when Mo Xiuyao had led his troops to pacify the south years ago—had he not been held back by the court, Nanzhao would likely have been reduced to a shell of its former self, if not utterly destroyed. But once the Mo Family Army truly broke free from Great Chu's control, it would become a sword without a scabbard. Wherever it struck, it would bring inevitable devastation and bloodshed—unstoppable by anyone.

Lei Tengfeng was taken aback. As the heir of Western Liang's Prince Zhennan, he naturally grasped the gravity of the situation. What puzzled him was why Mo Xiuyao had chosen this moment to break with Great Chu. When the Mo Family Army had fought bloody battles only to be stabbed in the back by Mo Jingqi, Mo Xiuyao had not acted. Even after Ye Li's fall from the cliff, though Mo Xiuyao had executed seven thousand soldiers and seized the northwest, he had not truly retaliated. He had even ignored Mo Jingqi's edict stripping him of his princely title. But today... judging by the scene before him, Lei Tengfeng realized Mo Xiuyao had no intention of holding back any longer. Was it because of the Xu Family? His gaze shifted to the composed Xu Family members across from him—from the silver-haired Mr. Qingyun to the youngest Fifth Young Master, each an exceptional figure among men. Yet it made little sense that Mo Xiuyao would choose to openly defy Mo Jingqi for their sake, especially since the Xu Family had already been in the northwest for quite some time.Zhennan Wang let out a cold laugh and said indifferently, "Mo Xiuyao was right. Mo Jingqi is truly an idiot. He's fallen right into Mo Xiuyao's trap. Mo Xiuyao was waiting for him to make the first move!" Given the pride of the Mo Family Army, it would have been strange if they hadn't reacted to such humiliation from Mo Jingqi.

Amidst the clamor of curses and shouts, Mo Xiuyao calmly raised his hand, and the uproar from the Mo Family Army soldiers below immediately ceased. Everyone's gaze turned to Mo Xiuyao, who slowly rose from his seat, and Ye Li, who stood up with him. The two stood side by side, towering above the rest, evoking an inexplicable sense of awe. Mo Xiuyao looked at the Minister of Rites, whose face had turned livid with rage, with a cold smile before his gaze swept over Mo Jingli. Mo Jingli suddenly felt a pang of unease, his eyes fixed intently on Mo Xiuyao as his hands clenched tightly behind his back. Mo Xiuyao, just what are you planning?

Then Mo Xiuyao spoke, "I've heard enough of what Mo Jingqi has to say. Since everyone is gathered here today, I too have something to say. Listen carefully, and then relay every word back to Mo Jingqi without missing a single one."

Behind him, Zhuo Jing stepped forward, holding a scroll of bright yellow silk. Mo Xiuyao casually took it, glanced at it, and without even unrolling it, tossed it downward, saying, "Feng San, read it!"

Feng San, who had been drinking with Zhang Qilan, leaped up effortlessly. His dazzling red robes fluttered like a crimson cloud as he landed gracefully in the center of the hall, clutching the bright yellow silk in his hand.

"Mo Jingqi is a foolish and tyrannical ruler who frames loyal subjects. As an emperor, he disregards the stability of the nation. First, he conspired with enemy forces to plot against the late Prince Ding, Mo Xiuwen, causing his sudden death at the border and the unjust demise of tens of thousands of Mo Family Army soldiers. Later, he colluded with enemy nations again, seeking the destruction of the Mo Family Army and myself. The Chu imperial family bears the blood debt of killing my father and elder brother, followed by the hatred of slander and false accusations. The Mo Family Army has served the Great Chu loyally for generations, unwavering even in the face of death. Yet today, we suffer such humiliation and disgrace, tarnishing the honor of our ancestors and disturbing the souls of the fallen. Henceforth, with the Flying Goose Pass as the boundary, the Mo Family Army and Great Chu shall govern separately, severing all ties!" Feng Zhiyao's voice, infused with inner energy as he read the proclamation, carried far and wide. Not only did silence fall over the city walls, but even the bustling streets in the distance grew eerily quiet. His clear, solemn voice seemed to echo across half of Ruyang City.

"The Chu imperial family killed my father and brother and dishonored our heroes. From this day forth, I sever all ties with the Chu imperial family—no further connections remain!" Mo Xiuyao's final words reverberated across the skies of Ruyang City. On the city walls, the soldiers of the Mo Family Army rose to their feet, shouting, "Long live Wang Ye!" Meanwhile, Mo Jingli's expression was inscrutable, and the Minister of Rites, who had been livid earlier, now stood pale and unsteady, on the verge of collapse.

La la la~ Thank you all for your deep love—let's vote for the Popularity Award in the Fengyun Rankings!